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Phylogenetic placement of C ibicidoides wuellerstorfi ( S chwager, 1866) from methane seeps and non‐seep habitats on the P acific margin
Author(s) -
Burkett A. M.,
Rathburn A. E.,
Pérez M. E.,
Levin L. A.,
Cha H.,
Rouse G. W.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.859
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1472-4669
pISSN - 1472-4677
DOI - 10.1111/gbi.12118
Subject(s) - foraminifera , petroleum seep , cold seep , biology , bathyal zone , habitat , oceanography , benthic zone , ecology , geology , methane
Benthic foraminifera are among the most abundant groups found in deep‐sea habitats, including methane seep environments. Unlike many groups, no endemic foraminiferal species have been reported from methane seeps, and to our knowledge, genetic data are currently sparse for P acific deep‐sea foraminifera. In an effort to understand the relationships between seep and non‐seep populations of the deep‐sea foraminifera C ibicidoides wuellerstorfi , a common paleo‐indicator species, specimens from methane seeps in the P acific were analyzed and compared to one another for genetic similarities of small subunit r DNA ( SSU r DNA ) sequences. Pacific O cean C . wuellerstorfi were also compared to those collected from other localities around the world (based on 18 S gene available on G enbank, e.g., Schweizer et al ., 2009). Results from this study revealed that C . wuellerstorfi living in seeps near C osta R ica and H ydrate R idge are genetically similar to one another at the species level. Individuals collected from the same location that display opposite coiling directions (dextral and sinstral) had no species level genetic differences. Comparisons of specimens with genetic information available from G enbank (SSU rDNA) showed that P acific individuals, collected for this study, are genetically similar to those previously analyzed from the N orth A tlantic and A ntarctic. These observations provide strong evidence for the true cosmopolitan nature of C . wuellerstorfi and highlight the importance of understanding how these microscopic organisms are able to maintain sufficient genetic exchange to remain within the same species between seep and non‐seep habitats and over global distances.